Speakers at Ted Dumitru’s memorial service at Ellis Park Arena on Thursday included former coaching pupils‚ ex-players and administrators form the coaching legend’s 31-year career in South Africa.Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung‚ who initially met the coach when playing in the North American Football League in the 1970s‚ and brought Dumitru to South Africa in 1985‚ said Dumitru was a genius at managing players.Obituary: Ted Dumitru, quiet coach who brought out the best in local talentFormer Mamelodi Sundowns striker Daniel Mudau and ex-Downs head of youth Sam Mbatha also paid tribute to the legendary football coach‚ who died at 76 of a heart attack on Thursday‚ May 26.WHAT THEY SAID:Kaizer Motaung‚ Kaizer Chiefs chairman — His life was devoted to football. And I stand here before you with a heavy heart simply because I happen to have been very responsible for making sure that today we are here.I stand here with a heavy heart because Ted was here because I persuaded him to come to South Africa. I had met him in America during my career there as a player.And fortunately when he came to South Africa‚ via Zambia and Swaziland‚ I happened to have gone to Swaziland at the time‚ and we met again.And we had a very lengthy discussion about football‚ particularly in South Africa. After that I was ultimately able to convince Ted to come to South Africa. And we obviously were also looking to reinforce our technical staff at Kaizer Chiefs at the time.I think a lot has been said about Ted‚ and a lot is still going to be said about Ted. Death is something very cruel‚ but death also has a way of bringing the realities of life in front of us.All you need to do is look at the news after Ted’s death‚ from Thursday onwards‚ and there lies the story.If anybody could have broached the subject before Ted died about Ted‚ I can guarantee there would have been a very fierce debate about those who acknowledged his contribution‚ and those who were critical of his contribution.I just want to bare testimony to all the comments about Ted‚ what he has done and what he achieved. Because I happen to have been part of his journey in football.From both at the players and the coaches that he has produced in this country‚ there are a lot of stories to tell.Ted was a genius in terms of how he managed players. Actually Ted‚ for me‚ surprised me because he behaved like somebody who grew up in the townships‚ who knows how to deal with players from disadvantaged communities and backgrounds.And I think this is actually what distinguished him from his peers. Especially those who come from abroad who don’t understand the culture‚ and also how to deal with players.Ted was a very interesting character. He may not have won or done very well with the national team‚ but it just simply explains the belief that you cannot win them all.But if you look at his track record‚ you will see that the man was committed. His biggest strength from me was the fact that he became African. He might have been European by birth‚ but he had African football in his veins. That was the measure of the man.Sam Mbatha‚ former Sundowns head of youth — Ted‚ when he started had a group of coaches and he had an office near Carlton Centre. Every Monday evening he would hold coaching clinics.For some of us‚ who were very young at that time‚ and aspirant coaches‚ we felt that Monday was not enough because of the wealth of football knowledge that Ted had.We made his home our second home‚ and he would always welcome us. We used to stay with Ted‚ almost every day of the week from 7am to 7pm. And all we would discuss was football.There emerged a very special group of coaches. The likes of Mike Ntombela‚ Mandla Mazibuko‚ Farouk Khan and Cavin Johnson.Because it was a Monday‚ part of the discussions would be about what took place on a weekend. And in those early stages Ted taught us how to analyse football matches.Today people talk about modern football and analysing the opposition – it started 30 years ago with us and Ted.For us Ted was a football scientist in that he believed so much I research. Ted would observe and watch every game‚ analyse them‚ and once he had the findings it was up to us to debate whatever he could disseminate to us.Ted is also known as “the Professor”. But Ted to us was also an innovator and creative genius.Daniel Mudau‚ former Sundowns striker and the PSL’s all-time top scorer - I remember when he came to manage Sundowns in 1997-98. At that stage I wanted to leave Sundowns. But he came and made sure he instilled confidence in me.He started by playing me at right-back‚ then after a few games said to me‚ ‘Now I’m upgrading you to play as a right winger’. I scored a few goals‚ and then he said I could go back to my position at striker.If someone believes in you‚ and you take what he is saying‚ you can go far. That is how I ended up becoming the PSL’s top scorer.Zipho Dlangalala‚ Sundowns youth coach — The man was an icon. It never mattered to him what position or status in society one had – he treated human beings as people who deserved respect.This was someone who believed in the African potential even when Africans did not. His pursuit for what he appreciated can be seen in his desire to come to Africa and see for himself what makes this artistry which he had witnessed in the US professional league (NASL) in the 1970s.We as South Africans can be proud of ourselves that at that time such players as ‘Chincha Guluva’ [Kaizer Motaung]‚ Jomo “Troublemaker” Sono‚ Andries “Six Mabone” Maseko and many more who exhibited the same traits were responsible for Ted to come to this continent.Once he was here he could not resist the affinity that had attracted him from afar. He made South Africa his home. He lived here and death found him here. TMG Digital ..